Ryan's build thread - Clean and Mean
#501
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I finished up the valve cover this weekend. Put some course steel wool in all 3 chambers like so.
The crank case venting should be substantially better now that I upgraded from the puny 3/8" lines to 5/8".
Weather is pretty **** today but I am still considering taking it out for a quick spin to see if I still get any oil from the turbo now that both the breathing and oil drain have had substantial capacity added. I would really like to start getting some full throttle pulls in this thing. I want to log wastegate spool, EBC at wastegate, and then eventually hook up my VVTuner box and see how the spool is effected by that as well. I am guessing the EBC will give me atleast 500 rpms and then the VVT will do another 500rpms. I also got some ID1000s so I can turn up the boost.
The crank case venting should be substantially better now that I upgraded from the puny 3/8" lines to 5/8".
Weather is pretty **** today but I am still considering taking it out for a quick spin to see if I still get any oil from the turbo now that both the breathing and oil drain have had substantial capacity added. I would really like to start getting some full throttle pulls in this thing. I want to log wastegate spool, EBC at wastegate, and then eventually hook up my VVTuner box and see how the spool is effected by that as well. I am guessing the EBC will give me atleast 500 rpms and then the VVT will do another 500rpms. I also got some ID1000s so I can turn up the boost.
#505
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I get that some of it will be corrosive and there will be moisture but there is also actual oil getting into those chambers which then drains back into the engine. There would be a coat of oil on the steel wool the entire time.
#507
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How would this even happen unless it's corroding? There is nothing moving around it. Steel wool doesn't just break apart if no force is acting upon it. It is all enclosed in completely separate chambers. You are all freaking me out but I honestly can't logically get to anything actually going wrong when there is clearly oil getting into those ports that should stop the steel from corroding. Are there any documented cases of someone losing an engine to steel wool or is this all just speculation?
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So I understand that moisture and other substances pass through the chambers. However, there remains a coat of oil on everything in there which is apparent anytime you remove the valve cover and open the chambers. They are not bone dry. These is a film of oil on all surfaces. So I guess it comes down to weather the oil isn't enough to protect the steel wool from the moisture and other corrosive gasses. I'm not convinced the oil won't be enough and I have never seen someone have an issue with it. I know other people have used steel wool.
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The inside of my valve cover vent chambers were completely corroded from the bare aluminum remaining in contact with the moisture much of the time. And so were the steel cover plates that screw onto the bottoms of the chambers. Even the little phillips screws rusted away to nothing.
Oh, wait. Nope. Everything was really oily and had to be degreased prior to getting anything done with them. And it had been parked for a couple of weeks.
How long had yours been parked, Ryan, when you pulled the valve cover off? How dried out was it? Corroded? Rusted? I'm curious.
Oh, wait. Nope. Everything was really oily and had to be degreased prior to getting anything done with them. And it had been parked for a couple of weeks.
How long had yours been parked, Ryan, when you pulled the valve cover off? How dried out was it? Corroded? Rusted? I'm curious.
#516
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They probably make stainless wool somewhere. Some oem's use plastic open cell foam as a breather filter but I wouldn't. VW uses a plastic windage tray in the oil pan of some Jettas, Beetles, and Golfs but they can deform if the engine runs hot. I've seen people use green scrubber pads somewhere but cannot recall where. I wouldn't do that either.
Do whatever you think is best. I'll support you!
Do whatever you think is best. I'll support you!
#518
The inside of my valve cover vent chambers were completely corroded from the bare aluminum remaining in contact with the moisture much of the time. And so were the steel cover plates that screw onto the bottoms of the chambers. Even the little phillips screws rusted away to nothing.
Oh, wait. Nope. Everything was really oily and had to be degreased prior to getting anything done with them. And it had been parked for a couple of weeks.
How long had yours been parked, Ryan, when you pulled the valve cover off? How dried out was it? Corroded? Rusted? I'm curious.
Oh, wait. Nope. Everything was really oily and had to be degreased prior to getting anything done with them. And it had been parked for a couple of weeks.
How long had yours been parked, Ryan, when you pulled the valve cover off? How dried out was it? Corroded? Rusted? I'm curious.
#519
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I'd be worried about something so fine just straight up coming apart. Its not like the BP is the smoothest motor ever.
I believe Chore Boy brand makes a copper scrubber that is actually copper and not some sort of copper electroplated pot metal, I'd probably be more comfortable using that in a catch can before I'd use anything steel wool. Personally I'm not comfortable putting ANYTHING like that in an engine, but that's just me.
I believe Chore Boy brand makes a copper scrubber that is actually copper and not some sort of copper electroplated pot metal, I'd probably be more comfortable using that in a catch can before I'd use anything steel wool. Personally I'm not comfortable putting ANYTHING like that in an engine, but that's just me.